Documentary from local filmmaker 73 Degrees
Three
Generations
Three Generations is a new documentary celebrating the people, passions and culture of Wrexham through the lives of three generations of people from the city.
The film follows Joe, a local skateboarder, artist Liam Stokes-Massey and bell ringer Peter.
Although the three subjects could hardly appear more different, the film finds a common thread between them. Each has found a way to express themselves, connect with other people and build a community around something they care deeply about.
Photos credit: Leon Bowen
Joe takes viewers through his life and commitment to skateboarding
in a city that does not always offer the easiest conditions or facilities for the sport. Despite the difficulties, his perseverance has helped him to build lasting friendships. As he says, the cool thing about skating in Wrexham is “that you have to be so committed to keep going with it.”
Commitment is a key theme
for Liam Stokes-Massey too, as he shares his own journey, from his earliest drawings to creating giant murals across Wrexham. His work has truly helped shape the new look and feel of the city centre, becoming a key part of Wrexham’s bid to be crowned UK City of Culture in 2029.
Finally, Peter introduces viewers to the world of bell ringing
at St Giles’ Church, where we meet members of the bell ringing team as they practise their skills and build friendships high above the city. Although retired from bell ringing (as making his way up the many stairs inside the famous tower is not as easy as it used to be for him!) Peter fondly explains how bell ringing helped bring him, his wife and his friends closer together.
Together, their stories offer a portrait of a Wrexham that exists beyond our incredibly famous football club
showcasing some of the alternative passions and traditions that make the city such an interesting and culturally rich place.
Filmed At
The Foundry
Three Generations was created by participants in 73 Degree Films’ Documentary School, which took place in Wrexham earlier this year. The free course brought together over 30 people of different ages and abilities to learn documentary filmmaking from a range of professional filmmakers, including Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Leighton Cox, recognised for his work on Welcome to Wrexham.
A Word From
The Producer
Robert Corcoran, producer of the course, said:
“Over the last 5 years, thanks to Welcome to Wrexham and other shows, Wrexham has become renowned for documentary filmmaking, so we really wanted to create a fun and free way for local people to be able to gain new skills and try it out themselves, led by those working at the cutting edge of the industry.”
All Made
Possible By
The Documentary School was made possible thanks to supporters Ymddiried, Wrecsam2029, Arts & Business Cymru and The Foundry. 73 Degree Films hopes to run another free course in 2027. Anyone interested in helping to make this possible by sponsoring the 2027 school can contact the team contact@73degreefilms.com.